Altered Chords

Lesson 3/39 | Study Time: 5 Min
Course: Beginner Jazz Guitar
Altered Chords

Altered Chords

Often a musician will encounter a chord that involves a slight alteration to one of the common chord formulas. The alteration is usually indicated in the name given to the chord. An example of an altered chord would be the Bm7b5 (B minor seven flat five) chord. As its name implies the Bm7b5 chord is a Bm7 chord with the fifth note flattened (1 semitone). The formula for a m7b5 chord is 1 b3 b5 b7.

Thus the notes contained within the Bm7b5 chord are (B D F A). The minor seven flat five is sometimes called the half diminished (N) chord e.g., BN .

Sometimes, when a m7b5 chord is written in sheet music the flat sign (b) is replaced by a - (which also means to flatten a note) e.g., Bm7-5.

Here are the most common root 6, root 5 and root 4 minor seven flat five shapes.

Gm7b5 (Root 6)

Bm7b5 (Root 5)

Em7b5 (Root 4)

Play the following chord progression using a combination of root 6, root 5 and root 4 chords. Use the m7b5 shape that sounds the best for each particular combination.

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Steve Sutton and Gary Turner

Steve Sutton and Gary Turner

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Class Sessions

1- The Major Chord 2- Chord Chart 3- Scales and Key Signatures 4- Chord Symbols 5- The Blues Progression 6- Scale Tone Chords 7- Minor Seven Flat Five 8- Root 4 Chords 9- Augmented 10- Root 5 - Minor Sixth 11- Root 5 - Minor Sixth 12- Minor Sixth Chord 13- Ninth Chord 14- Root 5 - Minor Seventh 15- Root 5 - Dominant Seventh 16- Root 5 Chord Shapes 17- INTRODUCTION 18- Summary of Keys 19- Minor Chord 20- Dominant Seventh Chord 21- Major Sixth Chord 22- Root 5 - Major Sixth Chord 23- Major Seventh Chord 24- Summary of Scale Tone Chords 25- Jazz Guitarists of Note 26- The Major Chord Formula 27- The Blues Turnaround 28- Altered Chords 29- Minor Seventh Chord 30- Cycle of Fifths 31- Root 5 Major Seventh 32- Scale Tone Chord Extensions 33- Common Blues Turnaround 34- Comping 35- Principal Chords 36- Summary of Scale Tone Extension Chords 37- Traditional Four to the Bar Rhythm Playing 38- Playing Scale Tone Extensions 39- Scale Tone Chord Extensions in the Key of C

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